Patriots rookie growing more comfortable with position switch
FOXBORO — Every morning before practice, Patriots offensive linemen meet and receive a depth chart, which tells them not only which group they’ll be practicing with but also at which position.
For the last two practices, rookie Caedan Wallace has been the Patriots’ starting left tackle. Wallace backed up Calvin Anderson at right tackle on Day 1 of training camp and Vederian Lowe at right tackle on Day 2. Since Friday, Wallace has been positioned at left tackle, moving veteran Chukwuma Okorafor back to his natural position at right tackle.
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“Wherever they need me. That’s what I’m going to do,” Wallace said Sunday. “I switch up a lot, and I have fun with it. It’s great competition, and I have great guys help me out with it. I’m just glad to be here.”
The third-round pick played right tackle in college at Penn State, but he was a left tackle in high school. After the draft, the Patriots said they believed the 6-foot-5, 313-pounder could play on the left side in the NFL.
“Every day, I get more and more comfortable,” Wallace said of playing left tackle. “With every meeting and every practice, I just gain more confidence in my skills.”
Through four days of practice, Sidy Sow, David Andrews and Mike Onwenu have been mainstays on the top offensive line at left guard, center and right guard, respectively. Onwenu played right tackle to begin the spring but has been moved back inside this summer. The Patriots will likely need help at guard to start the season with Cole Strange still on the PUP list with a knee injury.